Engagement Concerns Arise with Meta Quest Headsets

Meta is facing challenges with user engagement on its Meta Quest headsets, according to recent reports. A Washington Post article highlighting morale issues within the organization cited sources stating that new Quest owners tend to stop using the devices after a short period. Furthermore, users are opting for third-party VR applications over Meta's own Horizon Worlds app. A former employee expressed criticism, noting that the company's approach to hardware development has been akin to a software company, with multiple concurrent projects and versions, following its acquisition of Oculus in 2014. The former employee commented, "It was built like a software company trying to experiment, rather than a mature hardware company focused on building hardware." In February, Meta's VR division reported a significant operating loss of $13.7 billion for 2022. Subsequently, in March, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced company-wide layoffs, affecting 10,000 employees by year-end, in addition to the 11,000 roles cut in November 2022.